Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Functions
Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is a method of transferring data between two Windows applications while they are running.
A DDE conversation is initiated by the DDE client, in this case the iProcess Workspace (Windows), by sending a message to the DDE server, for instance an application from which data is being requested, or which is being instructed to perform some task like opening an image window.
DDE facilities are mainly used in scripts, since multiple DDE statements are usually necessary for each interaction.
The Initiate Conversation message is sent with the DDEINITIATE script statement. This is followed by one or more messages such as DDEREQUEST, DDEEXECUTE or DDEGETTOPIC. The conversation is terminated with DDETERMINATE (or DDETERMALL).
For example:
WINRUN ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\EXCEL.exe C:\BUDG.XLS", 1)
init := DDEINITIATE (excelch, "EXCEL", "c:\BUDG.XLS")
req := DDEREQUEST (excelch, "R4C6", field1, 1, 5)
exec := DDEPOKE (excelch, "R1C2", "Hello", 5)
term := DDETERMINATE (excelch)
where excelch and field1 are iProcess fieldnames.
In this example, iProcess Workspace (Windows) establishes a DDE conversation with Excel, instructs Excel to open the BUDG.XLS spreadsheet, and then retrieves the value of a particular cell into an iProcess field.
All DDE commands are performed synchronously - iProcess waits until the command completes before continuing.
The following DDE functions can be used.
|
Function |
Usage |
Description |
|
|
Send an EXECUTE command to a server |
|
|
|
Get a DDE server's application name |
|
|
|
Get a DDE server's topic name |
|
|
|
Initiate a conversation with a DDE server |
|
|
|
Send data to a server |
|
|
|
Request an item of data from a server |
|
|
|
Terminate all DDE conversations |
|
|
|
Terminate a DDE conversation |
